If libraries what influential people in their service areas to regard them as full partners in community building, libraries need to know their information needs before they do, and get the resources into their hands that will facilitate their decision-making before they realize they need it. Suggestions are provided for effective marketing of…

Suggests that work with the labor movement presents an opportunity for libraries to reach deeper into their community of users. Provides examples of library services, both in-house programs and materials and outreach efforts, for the labor community. Notes that the need for library-labor partnerships is as strong as ever. (AEF)

Describes how a historic church building in New Woodstock, New York was converted into a full-service modern library. Discusses community support and patron involvement in the project, the design plan which retained the historical integrity and satisfied modern requirements, funding from local contributions, spatial arrangements, and provisions…

Discusses past influences on Russia's libraries, examines current improvements in the Russian library situation, and considers prospects for the future. Highlights include the publishing industry; government economic problems; financial support from trade unions; outdated materials; dissatisfied users; and censorship under past regimes. (LRW)

Presents a transcript of a conference call between Bart Kane (Hawaii State Librarian and advocate of the Hawaii/Baker & Taylor outsourcing plan) and Patricia Wallace (chair of the American Library Association's Hawaii Working Group formed to examine details of the plan) who debate the merits of Hawaii's model of outsourcing collection…

Discussion of videocassettes in our culture and the function of video collections in libraries focuses on the creation and demise of a unit sponsored by the American Library Association, the ALA Video and Special Projects. The unit's role is discussed and funding decisions that led to its demise are explained. (LRW)

Offers a brief history of library youth services and the political strategies behind them. Topics include the role of women, outreach programs of public libraries, tax support, library development after World War II, federal legislation and funding, National Library Week, school libraries, parent involvement, collaborative partnerships, and…

Suggests that librarians should include street newspapers, produced by homeless people and their advocates, in their collections. Discusses characteristics and features of these newspapers and describes different papers from cities across the United States. (AEF)

Discusses libraries and issues relating to censorship, social protest, and First Amendment rights. Topics addressed include materials selection based on objective criteria; removing inappropriate material; intellectual freedom; limited versus absolute censorship; and possible errors in selection decisions. (LRW)

This second in a five-lesson tutorial on library evaluation focuses on the evaluation of library collections. Highlights include the seven-step evaluation process described in lesson one; quantitative methods (total size, unfilled requests, circulation, turnover rate); and qualitative methods (impressionistic, list-checking). One required and…

A discussion with the staff of the Internet Public Library (IPL), which began as a project at the University of Michigan, highlights its role in supplementing local public library services; classification; collection development policies; and the impact of legislation, copyright, and universal service on IPL. A sidebar presents IPL user…

Presents an annotated bibliography of 38 outstanding reference sources published in 1999 suitable for small to medium-sized libraries selected by the American Library Association's Reference and User Services Association's (RUSA) Reference Sources Committee of the Collection development and Evaluation Section. Categories include, general, language…

The first article describes effects of the devaluation of the dollar on American libraries that purchase scientific, technical and medical serials published in Europe, and the responses of libraries and library associations. The second presents reasons for increased serial prices from the perspective of the publishing industry. (15…

Reports on public and academic libraries' efforts to collect and preserve zines, which many librarians consider to be an important record of communication and culture. Discusses a donation to the New York State Library in Albany; collection development; use by scholars and students for research; problems with cataloging zines; and handling zines…

Explains DVD (Digital Video Disk) technology and why it is useful in library collections. Topics include similarities to CDs and regular videocassettes; advantages of DVD for public, school, and academic libraries, including quality and durability; and DVD myths. (LRW)